Pump assembly

ABSTRACT

A pump assembly of the type for insertion into an opening in a fluid reservoir such as the type used for windshield cleaning liquid in an automobile. The pump housing has a shoulder for overlapping the periphery of an opening in a fluid reservoir and defines an impeller chamber rearwardly of the shoulder. An inlet passage extends forwardly from the impeller chamber and is disposed radially inwardly of the shoulder. The inlet passage supports a filter integral therewith. A wall surrounds the inlet passage and is in spaced relationship thereto for disposition in the opening in a reservoir whereby a snap ring or the like may engage the wall for retaining the assembly to the reservoir. A bleed passage extends between the impeller chamber and the space between the inlet passage and the outer peripheral wall to provide a path for air from the impeller chamber into the reservoir to prevent air lock-up. A motor abuts the rearward end of the housing and a shaft extends from the motor to support an impeller in the impeller chamber. A seal is disposed in sealing relationship with the shaft and the housing between the impeller and the motor.

United States Patent 1191 Mack Mar. 18, 1975 1 PUMP ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Walter Edward Mack, Westland,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: McCord Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

221 Filed: Nov. 15, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 409,777

[52] U.S. Cl 417/423, 4l5/53 R, 415/121 G, 417/424 [51] Int. Cl. F04d 13/02 [58] Field of Search 417/423 R, 424; 415/53 R, 415/121 G, 206

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 3,070,025 12/1962 Cliborn 415/53 3,316,847 5/1967 Mandy et al. 417/423 R 3,416,456 12/1968 Pollak et a1 .[415/53 3,576,380 4/1971 Sargeant 417/423 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 119.908 5/1945 Australia 415/53 Primary E.raminerC. J. Husar Attorney, Agent, or Firm-McGlynn and Milton [57] ABSTRACT A pump assembly of the type for insertion into an opening in a fluid reservoir such as the type used for windshield cleaning liquid in an automobile. The pump housing has a shoulder for overlapping the periphery of an opening in a fluid reservoir and defines an impeller chamber rearwardly of the shoulder. An inlet passage extends forwardly from the impeller chamber and is disposed radially inwardly of the shoulder. The inlet passage supports a filter integral therewith. A wall surrounds the inlet passage and is in spaced relationship thereto for disposition in the opening in a reservoir whereby a snap ring or the like may engage the wall for retaining the assembly to the reservoir. A bleed passage extends between the impeller chamber and the space between the inlet passage and the outer peripheral wall to provide a path for air from the impeller chamber into the reservoir to prevent air lock-up. A motor abuts the rearward end of the housing and a shaft extends from the motor to support an impeller in the impeller chamber. A seal is disposed in sealing relationship with the shaft and the housing between the impeller and the motor.

10 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PUMP ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a pump assembly of the type utilized with a fluid reservoir such as the type used for containing windshield cleaning solvent in an automobile.

More specifically, the instant invention represents an improvement over the prior art assembly disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,576,380 granted Apr. 27, 197] in the name of John E. Sargeant and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. In that prior art assembly there is included a pump housing defining an impeller chamber with an inlet passage extending from the impeller chamber and through a right angle, bend or elbow shape to a threaded terminal which may be inserted in an opening in a reservoir. A filter is placed at the terminal end of the threaded portion and a nut engages the threaded portion to retain the filter in position and to retain the pump housing to the fluid reservoir.

The instant invention represents an improvement over the prior art assembly in that the filter is disposed in or supported directly by the inlet passage extending from the impeller chamber with the housing defining an exterior wall which extends into the opening ofa reservoir and which may be engaged by a frictional type retainer. Additionally, the housing defines an air bleed passage extending between the impeller chamber and the open end of the housing for providing a passage between the impeller chamber and the reservoir independent of the inlet passage to bleed air from the impeller chamber to prevent an air lock-up.

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Referring now to the drawing, a pump and motor assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention is generally shown at 10. The assembly includes a motor 12 and a pump assembly generally indicated at 14. The pump assembly 14 is of the type for insertion into an opening 16 in the wall 18 of a fluid revervoir. As mentioned above, the reservoir may be of the type for retaining a solvent used in the windshield washer system of an automobile.

The pump assembly 14 includes a housing 20 which is preferably made of plastic and is a single integral piece. The housing is generally circular in configuration and includes an annular shoulder 22.'The shoulder 22 overlaps the periphery or wall defining the opening 16 in a reservoir. Normally a seal 24 is disposed between the shoulder 22 and the wall 18 of the reservoir. The housing also defines an impeller chamber 26 disposed radially inwardly of and rearwardly of the shoulder 22. An inlet passage means 28, defined by an annular projection or wall 30, extends from the impeller chamber 26 in the forward direction and is disposed radially inwardly from the shoulder 22. A filter 32 is disposed in or supported by the inlet passage means and is disposed inwardly of the shoulder 22. Preferably, the filter 32 is made of plastic and is integral with the plastic housing 20.

The housing includes an exterior wall surface 34 de-' fined by a forwardly projecting annular wall 36. The wall 36 surrounds the filter 32 and extends forwardly from the shoulder 22 through the opening 16 in the wall 18 of the reservoir for receiving a retainer 38 on bly of the friction-type which abuts the interior surface of the wall 18 and grips or bites into the exterior surface 34 of the wall 36. The retainer 38 may be similar to a Belleville-type washer.

The annular wall 36 is spaced from the wall 30 defining the inlet passage means to provide an annular space 40 between the inlet passage means and the exterior wall 36 and which is completely open in the forward direction so as to be open to the interiorof the reservoir. The housing includes an air bleed passage 42 extending between the impeller chamber 26 and the space 40 to provide a passage for air between the impeller chamber 26 and the interior of the reservoir to prevent an air lock-up. In other words, frequently when the pump is initially operated, the impeller chamber is full of air which causes cavitation and otherwise renders the pumping function very inefficient.

An outlet passage 44 extends tangentially from the impeller chamber 26. An impeller 46 is disposed in the impeller chamber. The motor 12 abuts the rear end of the pump housing, as indicated at 48. A shaft 50 extends from the motor 12 and is attached to and sup ports the impeller 46. A seal 52 is disposed between the impeller 46 and the motor 12 and is in sealing engagement with the shaft 50 as well as the pump housing 20. More specifically, the seal 52 has lugs 54 projecting from the rear face thereof and these lugs 54 abut the motor 12. The seal 52 is circular and has an outer periphery which is larger than the impeller chamber 26 so that when the motor 12 supporting the impeller 46 is mated with the pump housing 20, the impeller 46 may be moved through the rear end of the housing and into the impeller chamber while at the same time the seal 52 is moved into the seal cavity 56, the seal cavity 56 having a larger diameter than the impeller chamber 26.

In addition, a slinger member 58 is disposed on the shaft 50 between the seal 52 and the motor 12; The purpose ofa slinger member 58 is to pick up any liquid that may seep from the impeller chamber 26 past the seal 52 to move such water by centrifugal force out past the spaces between the lugs 54 and through the passages 60.

The arrangement of the components of the subject invention provides a more economically manufactured unit and one which is assembled to a reservoir in a much easier fashion and one which provides improved operating characteristics over the prior art assembly.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A pump assembly of the type for insertion into an opening in a fluid reservoir comprising; a housing, said housing having a shoulder for overlapping the periphery of an opening in a fluid reservoir, said housing defining an impeller chamber, an inlet passage means extending from said impeller chamber in the forward straight ahead direction and disposed inwardly of said shoulder, a filter disposed in said inlet passage means inwardly of said shoulder.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes an exterior wall-surfae surrounding said filter and extending in said forward direction from said shoulder for receiving a retainer on the interior of 21 reservoir.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2v wherein said filter is integral with said inlet passage means.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said exterior wall-surface is defined by a wall at least a part of which is spaced from said inlet passage means to providea space therebetween which is completely open in said forward direction.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said housing includes an air bleed passage extending between said impeller chamber and said space to provide a passage for air between said impeller chamber and a reservoir to prevent an air lock-up.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said wall is circular, said inlet passage means is circular and spaced inwardly from said wall so that said space is annular and extends completely about said inlet passage means.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said housing is defined by an integral piece of plastic and LII an outer periphery at least as large as said impeller.

chamber.

10. A pump assembly ofthe type for insertion into an opening in a fluid reservoir comprising; a housing having an open forward end for insertion into an opening in a fluid reservoir, said housing defining an impeller chamber, an inlet passage means extending forwardly from said impeller chamber and being open at said open forward end, said housing including an air bleed passage extending parallel to said inlet passage between said impeller chamber and said open end to provide a passage independent of said inlet passage means for air flow between said impeller chamber and a reservoir to prevent an air lock-up. 

1. A pump assembly of the type for insertion into an opening in a fluid reservoir comprising; a housing, said housing having a shoulder for overlapping the periphery of an opening in a fluid reservoir, said housing defining an impeller chamber, an inlet passage means extending from said impeller chamber in the forward straight ahead direction and disposed inwardly of said shoulder, a filter disposed in said inlet passage means inwardly of said shoulder.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said housing includes an exterior wall-surfae surrounding said filter and extending in said forward direction from said shoulder for receiving a retainer on the interior of a reservoir.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said filter is integral with said inlet passage means.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said exterior wall-surface is defined by a wall at least a part of which is spaced from said inlet passage means to provide a space therebetween which is completely open in said forward direction.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said housing includes an air bleed passage extending between said impeller chamber and said space to provide a passage for air between said impeller chamber and a reservoir to prevent an air lock-up.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said wall is circular, said inlet passage means is circular and spaced inwardly from said wall so that said space is annular and extends completely about said inlet passage means.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said housing is defined by an integral piece of plastic and said filter is integral therewith.
 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 including an outlet passage extending from said impeller chamber, an impeller disposed in said impeller chamber, a motor abutting the rearward end of said housing, a shaft extending from said motor and attached to said impeller, a seal disposed between said impeller and said motor, said seal being in sealing engagement with said shaft and said housing.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said seal is in abutting engagement with said motor and has an outer periphery at least as large as said impeller chamber.
 10. A pump assembly of the type for insertion into an opening in a fluid reservoir comprising; a housing having an open forward end for insertion into an opening in a fluid reservoir, said housing defining an impeller chamber, an inlet passage means extending forwardly from said impeller chamber and being open at said open forward end, said housing including an air bleed passage extending parallel to said inlet passage between said impeller chamber and said open end to provide a passage independent of said inlet passage means for air flow between said impeller chamber and a reservoir to prevent an air lock-up. 